1 Samuel 13

SAul reigned one year i. e. Had now Reigned one Year, from his first Election at Mizpeh, in which time these things were done, which are Recorded chap. 11. and 12. to wit, Peaceably, or Righteously. Compare 2 Sam. 2. 10., and when he had reigned two years over Israel,

Saul chose Heb. And (i. e. Then, as that Adverb is oft used, as Gen. 3. 5. and 18. 10, &c.) Saul chose. him three thousand men of Israel Which he thought sufficient for constant Attendance and Service, intending to Summon the rest when need should be.: whereof two thousand were with Saul in Michmash A Tract of Ground near Ramah and Bethel, in the Border of Benjamin, and near to the Philistines., and in mount Bethel, and a thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin: and the rest of the people he sent every man to his tent

And Jonathan smote the garison of the Philistines The first Design of Saul and Ionathan, was to Free their Land from the Garisons which the Philistines had in it; and they first begin to clear their own Country of Benjamin. that was in Geba Not the same place called Gibeah, v. 2. (for if the place were the same, why should he vary the Name of it in the same Story, and in the next Verse? Nor is it likely that Ionathan would choose that place for his Camp, where the Philistines had a Garison): but another place in the same Tribe, in which there were two distinct places, Gebah and Gibeah, Iosh. 18. 24, 28., and the Philistines heard of it: and Saul blew the trumpet thorowout all the land, saying, Let the Hebrews hear i. e. He sent Messengers to tell them all what Ionathan had done, and how the Philistines were enraged at it, and made great preparations for War; and therefore what necessity there was of gathering themselves together, and coming to him, for his and their own Defence..

And all Israel heard say, that Saul i. e. Ionathan by Saul's direction and encouragement. The Actions of an Army are commonly ascribed to their General. had smitten a garison of the Philistines, and that Israel also was had in abomination with the Philistines: and the people were called together after Saul to Gilgal The place before appointed by Samuel, chap. 1.... 8..

¶ And the Philistines gathered themselves together to fight with Israel, thirty thousand charets This number seems incredible to Infidels. To whom it may be sufficient to reply, That it is far more rational to acknowledge a mistake in him that Copied out the Sacred Text in such Numeral or Historical passages, wherein the Doctrine of Faith and Good Life is not directly concerned, than upon such a pretence to question the Truth and Divinity of the Holy Scriptures, which are so fully Attested, and evidently Demonstrated. And the mistake is not great in the Hebrew, Schalosh for Schelishim; and so indeed those two Ancient Translators, the Syriack and Arabick Translate it, and are supposed to have read in their Hebrew Copies, Three thousand. Nor is it necessary that all these should be Military Charets, but many of them might be for Carriage of things belonging to so great an Army; For such a distinction of Charets we find, Exod. 14. 7. But there is no need of this Reply. Charets here may very well be put for the Men that rode upon them, and Fought out of them, by a Figure called a Metonymy, of the Subject for the Adjunct; or the thing containing, for the thing contained in it, than which none more frequent. In the very same manner, and by the very same Figure, the Basket is put for the Meat in it, Deut. 28. 5, 17. the Wilderness, for the wild Beasts of the Wilderness, Psal. 29. 8. the Nest, for the Birds in it, Deut. 32. 11. the Cup, for the Drink in it, Ier. 49. 12. 1 Cor. 10. 21. And, to come more closely to the point, an Horse is put for an Horse-load of Wares laid upon it, 1 King. 10. 28. and an Asse of Bread, is put for an Asse load of Bread, both in the Hebrew Text of 1 Sam. 16. 20. and in an Ancient Greek Poet. And, yet nearer, the word Charets, is manifestly put, either for the Horses belonging to them; or rather, for the Men that Fought out of them, as 2 Sam. 10. 18. where it is said in the Hebrew, that David slew Seven hundred Charets; that is, Seven thousand Men, which Fought in Charets, as it is explained, 1 Chron. 19. 18. and 1 King. 20. 21. where Ahab is said to smite Horses and Charets; and 1 Chron. 18. 4. and Psal. 76. 6. where the Charet and Horse (i. e. the Men that Ride and Fight in Charets, or upon Horses) are said to be cast into a dead sleep: and Ezek. 39. 20. where it is said, ye shall be filled at my Table with Horses and Charets (i. e. with Men belonging to the Charets, for surely the Charets of Iron had been very improper Food), with mighty Men, &c. And let any cavilling Infidel produce a Wise reason, why it may not, and ought not to be so understood here also? Add to all this, that the Philistines were not alone in this expedition, but had the help of the Canaanites, and the Tyrians, as is very credible, both from Ecclesiast. 40. 20. and from the Nature of the thing. If it be further inquired, Why the Philistines should raise so great an Army at this time The Answer is Obvious; That not only their Old and Formidable Enemy Samuel was yet alive, but a New Enemy was risen, even King Saul, who was lately Confirmed in his Kingdom, and had been flushed with his good success against the Ammonites, and was likely to grow more and more potent, if not timely prevented; and they thought that now the Israelitish affairs were come to some Consistency, being put into the hands of a King; and therefore they thought fit once for all to put forth all their strength to suppress the Israelites, and to prevent that ruin which otherwise threatned them., and six thousand horsmen, and people as the s... nd which is on the sea shore in multitude, and they came up and pitched in Michmash, eastward from Beth-aven.

When the men of Israel saw that they were in a strait Notwithstanding their former presumption, that if they had a King, they should be free from all such straits. And hereby God intended to teach them the Vanity of all Carnal confidence in Men; and that they did not one jotless need the help and favour of God now, than they did before, when they had no King.: (for the people were distressed They were not mistaken in their apprehensions of Danger, as men oft are, for they were really in great Danger, their Enemies Host far exceeding theirs, both in Number, and Order, and Courage, and Arms.) then the people did hide themselves in caves Whereof there were divers in those parts for this very use, as we read in Iosephus, and in the Holy Scripture., and in thickets, and in rocks, and in high places, and in pits.

And some of the Hebrews went over Jordan, to the land of Gad and Gilead: as for Saul, he was yet in Gilgal, and all the people To wit, his whole Army, opposed to the common People, v. 6. followed him trembling.

¶ And he tarried seven days Not seven complete days; for that the last day was not finished, plainly appears from Samuel's reproof, which had then been groundless and absurd, and he had falsly changed Saul with breaking Gods command therein, v. 13. And as Samuel came on the seventh day, and that with intent to Sacrifice; so doubtless he came in due time, for that Work which was to be done before Sun-setting, Exod. 29. 38, 39. So Saul waited only six complete days, and part of the seventh, which is here called seven days: for the word Day, is oft used for a part of the Day, as among Lawyers, so also in Sacred Scripture, as Matth. 12. 40. where Christ is said to be in the heart of the Earth three days and three nights, i. e. one whole day, and part of the other two days. Moreover this place may be thus rendred: He tarried until the seventh day, (as this same Phrase is used Gen. 7. 10. Heb. until the seventh of the days) (as the Hebrew Lamed is oft taken) the set time that Samuel had appointed., according to the set time that Samuel had appointed: but Samuel came not to Gilgal, and the people were scattered from him.

And Saul said, Bring hither a burnt-offering to me, and peace offerings. And he offered the burnt-offering Either himself; or rather by the Priest, as Solomon is said to offer, 1 King. 3. 4. Compare 1 Sam. 1. 3..

And it came to pass, that assoon as he had made an end of offering the burnt-offering, behold, Samuel came i. e. It was told Saul, Behold Samuel is coming., and Saul went out to meet him, that he might salute him i. e. Congratulate his coming. This he did, partly out of custom; and partly, that by this Testimony of his affection and respect to Samuel, he might prevent that rebuke which his guilty Conscience made him expect..

¶ And Samuel said, What hast thou done He suspected that Saul had transgressed; either by his dejected countenance, or some words uttered by him, though not here expressed: but he asks him, that he might be more fully and certainly informed, and that Saul might be brought to an ingenuous Confession of his Sin, and true Repentance for it.? And Saul said, Because I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that thou camest not within the days appointed i. e. When the seventh day was come, and a good part of it past, whence I concluded thou wouldst not come that day, and that thou hadst forgotten thy appointment, or been hindred by some extraordinary occasion., and that the Philistines gathered themselves together to Michmash:

Therefore said I, The Philistines will come down now upon me to Gilgal, and I have not made supplication unto the LORD Hence it appears, that Sacrifices were accompanied with Solemn Prayers.; I forced my self therefore, and offered a burnt-offering I did it against my own mind and inclination. My Conscience told me I should forbear it, and punctually obey God's Command delivered to me by Samuel, but my necessity urged me to make haste..

And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly In that very thing wherein thou thinkest thou hast done wisely and politickly, in disobeying my express Command upon a pretended necessity, or reason of State.: thou hast not kept the commandment of the LORD thy God Not only upon common grounds, as thou art his Creature, and one of his People; but in a special manner, who has conferred peculiar Favours and Honours upon thee: which is an aggravation of thy sin., which he commanded thee: for now would the LORD have established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever Que. How could this be true, when the Kingdom was promised to Iudah, Gen. 49. 10. and consequently must necessarily be taken away from Saul, and from his Tribe? Ans. First, The Phrase, for ever, in Scripture use, oft-times signifies only a long time, as Gen. 43. 9. Exod. 21. 6. 1 Sam. 28. 2. So this had been abundantly verified, if the Kingdom had been enjoyed by Saul, and by his Son, and by his Son's Son; after whom the Kingdom might have come to Iudah. Secondly, Though the Kingdom had been promised to Saul, and to his Posterity for ever in a larger sense, yet that was upon condition of his Obedience. And therefore God might well promise the Kingdom to Iudah, because at that time, and before, he foresaw that Saul would by his disobedience forfeit that promise, and that he would take the forfeiture, and transfer the Kingdom to Iudah..

But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD has sought i. e. Has found or discovered, as men do by seeking. An Anthropopathy. him a man after his own heart i. e. Such a man as I desire, one who will fulfil all the desires of my heart, and not oppose them, as thou dost., and the LORD has commanded i. e. Has appointed or decreed, as the word command is sometimes used for it was not yet actually done. him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the LORD commanded thee Quest. First, What was Saul's sin? Ans. Either, First, That Saul Invaded the Priests Office, and Offered the Sacrifice himself: which is not probable, both because he had Priests with him, and among others an eminent one, Ahiah, chap. 14. 3. and therefore had no occasion nor pretence for that presumption. Or rather, Secondly, That Saul did not wait the full time for Samuel's coming; for that is the thing which God commanded, chap. 10. 8. and the breach of this command is the only thing for which Saul makes an Apology, v. 11, 12. Quest. Secondly, Why did God so severely punish Saul for so small an offence, and that occasioned by great necessity, and done with an honest intention? Ans. First, Men are very incompetent Iudges of Gods Judgments, because they see but very little, either of the Majesty of the offended God, or of the hainous nature and aggravations of the Offence. For instance, men see nothing but Saul's outward act, which seems small; but God saw with how wicked a mind and heart he did this, with what Rebellion against the Light of his own Conscience, as his own words imply; with what gross infidelity and distrust of Gods Providence; with what contempt of Gods Authority, and Justice, and many other wicked principles and motions of his heart, unknown to men. Besides, God clearly saw all that wickedness that yet lay hid in his heart, and foresaw all his other Crimes; and therefore had far more grounds for his Sentence against him, than we can imagine. Secondly, God does sometimes punish small sins severely, and that for divers weighty reasons, as that all men may see what the least sin deserves, and how much they owe to Gods free and rich Mercy, for passing by their great Offences; and what need they have not to indulge themselves in any small sin, as men are very prone to do, upon vain presumptions of Gods Mercy, whereby they are easily and commonly drawn on to hainous Crimes; and for many other reasons: so that some such instances of Gods severity, are necessary Discipline and Caution to all mankind in the present and future Ages; and therefore there is far more of mercy and kindness in such actions, than of rigour and harshness, since this is but particular to one Person, and the other is an universal good. Thirdly, It must be remembred, that the Kingdom of Saul, and of Israel, was now in its Infancy; and that this was the first command which he received from God. And it has been ever held a piece of Wisdom in all Law-givers, severely to punish the first Violations of their Laws, to secure their Honour and Obedience, and to affright and caution Offenders for the future. And accordingly God dealt with Cain the first Murderer; with Israel, for their first Idolatty with the Calf; with the first miscarriage of the Priests, Levit. 10. 1. with the first profaner of the Sabbath, Numb. 15. 32. with the first gross Hypocrites in the Christian Church, Act. 5. 5, 10. And therefore it is neither strange nor unjust, if he deal with Saul after the same manner, and upon the same grounds. Fourthly, Though God threaten Saul with the loss of his Kingdom for this sin; yet it is not improbable, that there was a tacit condition implied, as is usual in such cases, as Ionah 3. 4. to wit, if he did not heartily repent of this and of all his sins; for the full, and final, and peremptory Sentence of Saul's rejection, is plainly ascribed to another cause, chap. 15. 11, 23, 26, 28, 29. and till that second Offence, neither the Spirit of the Lord departed from him, nor was David anointed in his stead, chap. 16. 13, 14..

And Samuel arose, and gat him up from Gilgal, unto Gibeah of Benjamin Whither Saul also followed him; as appears from the next Verse: either, because it was better fortified than Gilgal: or, because he expected a greater increase of his Army there, it being in his own Tribe, and nearer the heart of his Kingdom: or, because he hoped for Samuel's Assistance there.. And Saul numbred the people that were present with him, about six hundred men.

And Saul, and Jonathan his son, and the people that were present with them, abode in Gibeah of Benjamin: but the Philistines encamped in Michmash.

And the spoilers came out of the camp of the Philistines in three companies That they might March several ways, and so waste several parts of the Countrey.; one company turned unto the way that leadeth to Ophrah A City of Benjamin, Ios. 18. 23. South-west from Michmash., unto the land of Shual.

And another company turned the way to Beth-horon A City of Ephraim, Ios. 16. 3. Northwest from Michmash., and another company turned to the way of the border that looketh to the valley of Zeboim toward the wilderness i. e The Wilderness of Iordan, Eastward..

¶ Now there was no smith found throughout all the land of Israel This was a Politick course of the Philistines, which also other Nations have used. So the Chaldeans took away their Smiths, 2 King. 24. 14. Ier. 24. 1. and 29. 2. And Porsenna obliged the Romans by Covenant, That they should use no Iron but in the Tillage of their Lands.: (for the Philistines said, Lest the Hebrews make them swords or spears.

But all the Israelites went down to the Philistines Not to the Land of the Philistines, for it is not said so, and that was too remote; but to the Stations and Garisons which the Philistines yet retained in several parts of Israels Land, though Samuel's Authority had so far over-awed them, that they durst not give the Israelites much Disturbance. In these, therefore, the Philistines kept all the Smiths; and here they allowed them the exercise of their Art for the uses here following. to sharpen every man his share, and his coulter, and his axe, and his mattock.

Yet they had a file for the mattocks, and for the coulters, and for the forks, and for the axes So the sense is, They allowed them some small helps to make their Mattocks, and in some sort to serve their present use. But these words may be otherwise Translated, and are so by some Learned, both Ancient and Modern, Translators; thus, Therefore the mouths or edges of the mattocks, and coulters, &c. were dull or blunt. Or rather thus, When (Heb. and put for when, as the Particle, and, is sometimes rendred, as Mar. 15. 25.) the mouths or edges of the mattocks, &c. were blunt. So this passage very well agrees both with the foregoing and following words; and the whole sense of the place is intirely thus, They went to the Philistines to sharpen their shares, and mattocks, and coulters, and axes, when they were blunt, and (which was more strange, They were forced to go to them, even) to sharpen their goads., and to sharpen the goads.

So it came to pass in the day of battel, that there was neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any of the people, that were with Saul and Jonathan Qu. How could the Israelites smite either the Garison of the Philistines above, v. 3. or the Host of the Ammonites, Chap. 11. 11. without Arms? And when they had Conquered them, Why did they not take away their Arms, and reserve them to their own use? Answ. 1. This want of Swords and Spears is not affirmed concerning all Israel, but is restrained unto those 600. who were with Saul and Ionathan? whom God by his Providence might suffer to be without those Arms, that the glory of the following Victory might be wholly ascribed to God; as for the very same reason God would have but 300 men left with Gideon, and those Armed only with Trumpets, and Pitchers, and Lamps, Iudg. 7. There were no doubt a considerable number of Swords and Spears among the Israelites, but they generally hid them, as now they did their Persons, from the Philistines. And the Philistines had not yet attained to so great a power over them, as wholly to disarm them, but thought it sufficient to prevent the making of new Arms; knowing that the old ones would shortly be decayed, and useless. 2. There were other Arms more common in those times and places, than Swords and Spears; to wit, Bows and Arrows, and Slings and Stones; as appears from Iudg. 20. 16. 2 Sam. 1. 18, 22. 2 King. 3. 25. 1 Chron. 12. 1, 2. besides Clubs, and Instruments of Agriculture, which might easily be turned into weapons of War. 3. God so governed the Affairs of the Israelites, that they had no great number of Swords, or Spears, Iudg. 5. 8. that so they might be kept in more dependence upon, and subjection unto God, wherein their safety and happiness consisted. And therefore, that famous Victory obtained against the Philistines in Samuel's days, was not got by the Sword of Men, but only by Thunder from Heaven, Chap. 7. 10., but with Saul and with Jonathan his son was there found.

And the garison of the Philistines went out to the passage of Michmash A place so called, because it was near to Michmash, and led towards Gibeah, which, it seems, they designed to Besiege; and in the mean time, to wast the adjoyning Country..